Sidney Crosby made his return in Game 2 on Friday and led the Penguins to a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes. Pittsburgh had already taken Game 1 by a score of 5-0, so it looked like they might be too much for the eighth seed Islanders. Instead the Islanders scored three unanswered goals in the last two periods to even the series.

“For us being in the playoffs and losing the 1st game the way we did, this game was a little bit of a statement game,” Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokovsaid.

But can the New York Islanders build off of that victory? They were just 10-11-3 at home this season, including two losses against Pittsburgh. At the same time, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma doesn’t want to underestimate the boost the Islanders will get in Nassau Coliseum during the playoffs.

“Our players have not seen this building like the way it’s going to be tomorrow,” Bylsma said in a Newsday report. “It’s going to be loud and it’s going to be a pretty crazy building.”

Going into this season, we saw three of the last four Presidents’ Trophy winners get booted from the playoffs in the first round. So far the Chicago Blackhawks have managed to defy that trend.

They were dominant from start to finish in the regular season, winning frequently in both blowouts and one-goal contests. That ability to compete in all situations should serve them well in the postseason and it certainly has so far.

All the same, Wild coach Mike Yeo isn’t giving up hope.

“Because we’re down 2-0, it doesn’t mean this series is over,” Yeo said. “I’ve been a part of series where we’ve come back from being down 2-0 and I know there’s other people on our team who have as well.”

Analysts Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire will be on hand for NBC, as will play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick.

The Sharks took Game 2 in dramatic fashion with Patrick Marleau netting the tying goal with just 56 sec remaining in regulation time. Raffi Torres then completed the comeback at 5:31 of the overtime period.

“We’re a bunch of veterans,” Sharks’ captain Joe Thorntonsaid. “All of us have played in so many playoff games, the calmness is scary sometimes.”

Thornton has never won the Stanley Cup before and he’s running out of chances, but the same can be said for Vancouver’s Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

The Canucks have the same veteran presence as the Sharks, both have been dominant forces in the regular season for years, and neither franchise has ever won the Stanley Cup. Neither team wants to see another year end in failure as their core players gradually head towards the decline of their careers.

Thank The Lord were not stuck with two faced Doc Emerick calling the Pens vs. Isles game! Can’t stand him one bit! Hopefully the Pens come to play a full 60 minute game this afternoon. Fleury can’t have another Tom Barrasso performance in net again.

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 10:34 AM

Another thing lets give thanks that the one faced honk for the team from pittsburgh piere iam for hire mcguire isn’t between the bench’s blowing kisses to the team from pittsburgh today ! The FLYLANDERS will not lose on home ice,,, this series is over it just hasn’t ended yet ! LETS GO FLYLANDERS DANT ! DANT ! DANT ! DANT ! DANT ! OUT IN THE FIRST ROUND THREE YEARS IN A ROW ! FIRE THE COACH ! CROSBYS RUSTY ! LOOKS LIKE THE PENS NEEED A GOALTENDER MORE THAN THE FLYERS ! MALKINS SORE FROM SUNBURN ! PLAY 60 MINUTES ! THE FLOWER SCORES ON HIMSELF ! MORROW SKATES LIKE AN OLD GROUND HOG ! VIVA LOS 1975 ! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ! NOTE TO YINZERS : I will be posting during the game so join in and let me rub it in yo face ! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !

ya know womanchestermiracle good luck with getting that soccer in america thing started but anywhoooooo it may look like that but its just good old clean living,,, endorphins firing on all cylinders on this beautiful morning just feeling good about my FLYLANDERS I know its tough for you to realize that but if you get your snoot out of that pint of GUINNESS and kick that soccer act to the side you may someday experience what its like not being a fraud ! LETS GO FLYLANDERS ! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

You must truly have nothing better to do with your life than just troll on penguin articles constantly. I guess it must suck seeing to see your teams the Giants and Flyers all miss the playoffs this season. Instead of trolling on here I have a suggestion for you which is this: Go to your local Lowes or Home Depot buy a large trash can, a trash picker upper, and a bulk pack of garbage bags. Now you might say “Well why do I need all of this?” Well since Philly looks like a dump with trash everywhere and with the Flyers out I think that this would be an excellent time to do some community service and clean out your dumpy city

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 11:41 AM

you forgot to say my my wears army boots

REDSKINSFORLIFE - May 5, 2013 at 12:04 PM

hopefully the islanders show what a little girl crosby is. Nice full face shield cindy.

giantssb42champs - May 5, 2013 at 10:39 AM

A little trivia. This is the first Isles nationally televised home playoff game on NBC since game 6 of the 1975 semis vs Flyers.

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 10:44 AM

You gotta love that piece of karma LET GO FLYLANDERS !

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 10:47 AM

1980 FINALS FLYERS VS ISLANDERS DID YOU HERE THAT HAIROFWEEED ?

handsofsweed - May 5, 2013 at 2:05 PM

Right. But you’re still wrong about not understanding the difference between “one” and “plural.” And I was right, they were both in the same conference the entire decade of the 80’s.

haterzinc - May 5, 2013 at 11:05 AM

Eiggles = definition of a troll

theageofquarrel - May 5, 2013 at 1:12 PM

Let me fix that for you.
Eiggles = definition of a turd

haterzinc - May 5, 2013 at 11:05 AM

Eiggles= queen of trolls

haterzinc - May 5, 2013 at 11:06 AM

Troll=get a life

haterzinc - May 5, 2013 at 11:07 AM

Eiggles= the epitome of the Philly fan base

haterzinc - May 5, 2013 at 11:08 AM

Eiggles= such a DB even fellow Philly fans Hate her

wisdomnfl - May 5, 2013 at 11:40 AM

1975

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 11:58 AM

2011 2012 2013

handsofsweed - May 5, 2013 at 2:02 PM

1991, 1992, 2009.

sportsfaninyyc - May 5, 2013 at 11:54 AM

Which channel/ network is broadcasting the Flyers game today???

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 11:58 AM

2011 2012 2013

haterzinc - May 5, 2013 at 12:13 PM

Cheer leading is the new sport in Philly……..F.L.Y.L.A.N.D.E.R.S….. Never you you DBs rooted for division opponents. You gonna root for the rags next round

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 12:22 PM

I have two favorite teams the first MY PHILADELPHIA FLYERS and the second WHO EVER IS PLAYING THE TEAM FROM PITTSBURGH

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 12:39 PM

Where are you, where you at, knock knock you there, just in case you did not know its 2-0 FLYLANDERS ! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !

haterzinc - May 5, 2013 at 12:47 PM

2-2 troll. Perhaps you should wait until the game is over to potentialy celebrate

eigglesnosuperbowls - May 5, 2013 at 12:49 PM

Yes you just knew when the FLYLANDERS went up 2-0 the team from armpittburgh was going to be rewarded with the pop up 5 on 3 ! LETS GO FLYLANDERS !

haterzinc - May 5, 2013 at 12:14 PM

Eiggles are you retarded or did you COMPLETELY BLOCK 2010 out of your MEMORY…same goes for yards like lax and broadst

I know it can be hard to look away when someone has so little self-respect that they are willing to continually willing to embarrass themselves, but ignoring this eiggles loser really is the only thing he won’t be able to stand.